Again in 2014, I spent 22 days mountain climbing the John Muir Path. Previous to that, the longest backpacking journey I had been on was 5 days, so there was loads I didn’t know.
A kind of issues was realizing the best way to cope with peeing and wiping on the path. Utilizing bathroom paper and packing it out was not a very good possibility since I’d have to hold a ridiculous quantity of TP for 22 days. So it appeared the one sensible factor to do was to drip dry.
Now let me be actual. Drip drying for 22 days and not using a correct bathe left me feeling completely disgusting down there. What was I pondering?!?
A couple of years later I used to be backpacking in Alaska and my backpacking information taught me the trick of utilizing a small quick-dry washcloth or bandana to wipe after peeing. It was a sport changer in comparison with drip drying or coping with packing out bathroom paper, however this technique nonetheless had some limitations. I didn’t like touching that washcloth with my fingers, and after one use the rag felt fairly soiled.
Shortly after that have, I found the Kula Material, which solved each single considered one of my backcountry peeing woes. The Kula Material is a reusable pee material with a clear and soiled aspect that attaches to the skin of your backpack. It’s made from an ultra-absorbant, anti-microbial materials, and you’ll rinse it off within the backcountry or throw it within the washer while you get dwelling.
It’s develop into considered one of my most beloved items of substances for sustaining my hygiene on the path, and even on day hikes, I all the time be sure that to throw one in my pack. So on this publish I’ll share what it’s, the best way to use it and why I find it irresistible a lot.
And for these of you girls who’re satisfied, I’m thrilled to share that I’ve collaborated with Kula to create a customized Bearfoot Concept x Kula Material. It incorporates a cosmic mountain scene with a bear (in fact) chilling by the water, and I really like the way it turned out!
This publish could include affiliate hyperlinks.
What’s a Kula Material?
Key Options
The place to purchase
A Kula Material is a reusable, antimicrobial pee material designed for girls who pee exterior. It has a entrance (clear) aspect with a wide range of cute designs and a again (soiled) aspect that you simply use to wipe.
The again aspect may be very absorbent and made from an antimicrobial material that dries in a short time. The black material can also be mushy and dimpled with a reflective thread sewn into it, so you may simply discover it at night time with a headlamp.
Whenever you’re carried out peeing, you merely use the black aspect of the Kula Material to dab your self clear. Afterward, you should utilize the snaps to fold the Kula Material in half with the soiled aspect in, after which the entire thing snaps to the skin of your pack.
For day hikes, you should utilize it a number of occasions all through the day with out having to fret about rinsing it off. For a multi-day journey, you may collect water from a stream to rinse it off, after which while you get dwelling, the Kula Material could be completely washed with cleaning soap and water within the sink or in a washer.
I’ve been obsessive about Kula Material for years, and now if I neglect mine at dwelling, I dread having to drip dry. I can’t consider I did that for therefore a few years and can by no means return to not utilizing a Kula Material.
For that motive, it’s considered one of my day mountain climbing necessities that by no means leaves my pack aside from when it’s within the washer.
You need to use the Kula Material in any wilderness setting for mountain climbing, tenting, and backpacking, however you may as well use it at dwelling, in porta-potties, and even at music festivals when the bathroom paper runs out.
Utilizing a pee rag can also be a strategy to comply with Go away No Hint tips. It’s a straightforward bathroom paper alternative and may scale back the quantity of bathroom paper that’s left behind within the wild (accidently or not). It additionally eliminates the necessity for a Ziploc bag in my backpack to pack out used bathroom paper.
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Kula Material Professionals and Cons
The Kula Material has numerous execs and actually just one con I can consider. Listed here are a few of the issues I like and dislike about utilizing this pee rag on my hikes.
Kula Material Professionals
Kula Material Cons
Why Use a Kula Material vs. a Bandana?
Bandanas don’t include the identical anti-microbial and anti-odor properties because the Kula Material. After the pee dries in your bandana, it’s going to stink, whereas the Kula Material will conceal all of the smells.
The Kula Material can also be far more absorbant than a banada.
How one can Use a Kula Material
A Kula Material is extraordinarily straightforward to make use of on the path. These step-by-step instructions stroll you thru the best way to use one within the wilderness.
How one can Clear a Kula Material
Should you’re utilizing a Kula Material for a day hike or a fast in a single day journey, you don’t want to clean it in between makes use of (until you’d wish to). I like to recommend washing the pee rag if it has been over 24 hours. There are a few other ways you may clear it.
Wash by hand
The gentlest strategy to wash a Kula Material is to take a small quantity of cleaning soap to wash it after which rinse it within the sink. Once I get dwelling from my hikes, I really take my Kula Material with me into the bathe and wash it in there.
For longer backpacking journeys, you may rinse it with water or you may scrub it with a small quantity of biodegradable cleaning soap away from pure water sources.
You then simply hold the pee rag to dry. Once I’m out mountain climbing and backpacking, I’ll both hold it from a tree or the skin of my pack. It air dries actually rapidly, however you may as well use it when it’s moist if you’ll want to pee earlier than it’s fully dry.
Ensure that to unfold it as you’re drying it, as UV rays from the solar will assist sterilize the material.
Machine wash
Whereas hand washing is beneficial to extend the lifetime of the Kula Material, another choice for laundry your Kula is to throw it within the washer. Once I’m feeling lazy or I neglect to clean it proper after I get dwelling, I simply throw it in with a load of laundry and have by no means skilled any issues.
Kula Material recommends closing the snap so it doesn’t get snagged on something (though I often neglect to do that and nothing has ever occurred). Additionally, don’t use material softener or bleach. Simply use your regular detergent.
Kula Material Efficiency
I’ve now been utilizing Kula Material solely for peeing within the backcountry since 2019. Earlier than I wrap up this Kula Material evaluate, I’ll point out some last ideas on efficiency and why I really like utilizing it.
Ease of Use
A Kula Material is extraordinarily simple to make use of. Once I must pee, I unsnap it from the skin of my backpack and use the black absorbent aspect to wipe. Then, I reattach it to my backpack and snap the absorbent aspect shut.
Cleanliness
Whilst you could really feel hesitant to attempt a pee rag and fear that it may be gross, I promise the Kula Material shouldn’t be! In comparison with a bandana, having a clear aspect and and soiled aspect permits you to all the time wipe with one aspect and contact the opposite aspect along with your fingers.
With common rinsing, my Kula Material has by no means smelled dangerous. It actually lives as much as it’s promise of killing odors and being hygenic. I additionally really feel a lot cleaner down there with out having drops of pee in my underwear after drip drying.
Privateness
I by no means really feel self-conscious when utilizing my Kula Material as a result of the black absorbent aspect hides any mess very well. I may use the double-snap function to cover the a part of the pee material I used to wipe when it’s connected to my backpack.
This means to be discreet is handy after I’m mountain climbing with pals on the path. It additionally feels much less awkward to hold a Kula Material again to your campsite than a wad of used bathroom paper!
Packability
The Kula Material is the proper measurement for a day hike or in a single day backpacking journey. Because it snaps onto the skin of my backpack, I don’t have to fret about rummaging round in my pack to search for it.
Because it’s solely 5.75 x 5.5 in and weighs 0.6 oz, I carry it on each hike and backpacking journey. It additionally takes up la lot much less room than carrying a bunch of bathroom paper in a ziplock bag.
Consolation
The material of the Kula Material feels snug when dabbing myself dry. The material feels actually mushy, and I’ve by no means skilled any irritation from utilizing it.
Design
I admire the sq. form of the material as a result of I can use a distinct nook every time I must wipe. This intentional design makes the material handy to make use of a number of occasions inside a day.
I additionally like the various coloration and design choices on the waterproof, outer-facing aspect of the material, though I’m neutral to the Bearfoot Concept x Kula Collab design 🙂
Sturdiness
I’ve owned the identical Kula Material for years, and it has held up properly. It nonetheless appears nearly as good because the day that I purchased it!
I’ve washed it by hand and within the washer and dryer, and it reveals no indicators of wear and tear or use. The seams and snaps are all intact, and the design has not light.
The place to Purchase a Kula Material
A Kula Material is small funding that can make a world of a distinction with regards to peeing exterior.
You possibly can seize the Bearfoot Concept x Kula Material collab proper from the Kula Material web site, and also you’ll get a enjoyable little shock within the package deal too!
If the Bearfoot Concept x Kula material isn’t your vibe, there are dozens of different designs to select from. I really like so a lot of them, it’s exhausting to select!
Continuously Requested Questions
No. The antimicrobial Silvadur™ silver ion–infused absorbent materials doesn’t present stains. The Kula Material founder particularly selected black to cover urine. Interval blood that dries on it is going to be barely seen, however you should utilize the snaps to maintain it folded in half so it’s not seen to others.
No. The Kula Material is hypoallergenic, unhazardous, nonsensitizing, and non-irritating to the pores and skin. I’ve by no means skilled any points after utilizing it.
I’m stunned how little the Kula Material smells after utilizing it after I’m not capable of rinse it straight away. The fabric is antimicrobial and odor-resistant. When you rinse it or wash it, there may be zero odor.
No. The entrance aspect of the material with the print is waterproof, so any liquid is not going to soak via onto your hand when utilizing a Kula Material.
Sure. Kula Material makes use of many natural, eco-friendly supplies manufactured and milled sustainably in america – one more reason I really like them.
Though this technique additionally eliminates the necessity for lavatory paper, it isn’t hygienic or snug and may result in smelly mountain climbing underwear (I do know from expertise). It’s also dangerous if you happen to’re vulnerable to yeast infections or Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs).
Undoubtedly! Because the absorbent aspect is black, it hides menstrual blood. Should you by chance get blood on the entrance aspect, it should wash out with a small quantity of cleaning soap.
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Have you ever tried a Kula Material but? Let me know what questions you may have about this reusable pee rag within the feedback beneath!